Needed To Dwell With God

“LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.” (Ps 15:1-2 AV)

 

There is a positional consideration here and a practical consideration.  The positional consideration is all who have trusted Jesus Christ as their Savior will dwell with God in heaven.  This is called positional sanctification.  This has been accomplished by the imputation of Christ’s righteousness on the souls who have trusted in Him.  However, there is also practical sanctification, and by extension, access to God in the environment of His holiness.  Let us say right off the bat that if we are a child of God, there is nothing we can ever do that changes that status.  As a child of God, we walk with God.  We either walk with Him in obedience and faith, or we walk with Him in disobedience and fear.  Yet we walk with Him.  David is making a distinction between approaching God in the beauty of His holiness compared to walking contrary to His righteousness.  In other words, the question is not a matter of status.  Rather, it is a question of the nature of our relationship.  Who can approach God in the beauty of His holiness?  Who can dwell with God in perfect harmony?  Those that do those things listed above.  They that walk uprightly, work righteousness, and are honest in their own hearts are the ones who walk with God in perfect harmony as opposed to walking with God contrary to Him.

Our generation is quickly becoming satisfied with shallow relationships.  The very definition of intimacy is obscured.  Intimacy requires vulnerability, honesty, and emotional connection.  What is passed off as intimacy today is not intimacy.  The sad thing is, we are becoming ok with that.  Every social marker that indicates a culture that pursues intimacy has proven just the opposite.  Intimacy builds commitment.  Trust is the foundation of intimacy.  Therefore, the more one is intimate, the more trust grows.  Trust then build commitment.  Why take risks when security through trust is far more desirable?  Relationships are no longer permanent.  When one takes risks and it results in a secure relationship, there is no longer a need to seek another.  Faithfulness, which is the manifestation of mutual intimacy, is the proof two have indeed been truly intimate.  We don’t want this.  We are satisfied with shallow relationships.  We don’t want to feel vulnerable.  We do not want to get hurt.  We don’t want to let someone else deep inside where they might find things we would rather they not.  When it comes to God, this is utter foolishness.  We cannot hide anything from God.  He knows us better than we know ourselves.  He knows what is in the deepest parts of our minds and hearts.  The good news is, He loves us despite it.  If we are to be intimate with God, it requires honesty of heart and righteousness of the will.  The question then arises: how deep of a relationship with God do we want?

We do not make enough of righteousness and honesty in our spiritual walk with God.  We make too much presumption when it comes to our walk with God.  Grace is abused.  We believe God must put up with who and what we are with no consequences to our relationship.  A quick prayer for forgiveness, and all is right with God again.  Although God’s grace does indeed forgive all sin upon seeking it, this does not mean we can presume upon that forgiveness.  Those that dwell with God in the beauty of His holiness are those who are first willing to admit what God already knows.  Transparency with God means a lot.  Transparency is the opposite of presumption.  Transparency means we respect God enough to be honest with Him.  The next act of respect is to live in the righteousness of what He is asking.  To do otherwise is to disrespect His will and judgment that has our best interests at heart.  Who can dwell with God on His holy hill?  Those who walk uprightly and are honest with themselves.  That is who.